SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The State/Federal Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) in Aurora, Colorado will convert to a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Disaster Loan Outreach Center (DLOC) on Monday, October 21. The center will continue to operate at the Aurora Central Library from 9 am to 6 pm Mondays through Fridays and on Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm.

“At this stage of the recovery process, the emphasis for assistance is to meet the long-term needs of individuals and businesses that were impacted by the severe storms, flooding, mudslides and landslides that occurred from September 11 – 30, 2013,” said SBA’s Regional Administrator Matt Varilek. “We believe the transition of the Aurora Disaster Recovery Center to an SBA DLOC will better meet the current needs of Arapahoe County residents.”

“SBA customer service representatives will continue to answer questions, explain the application process, help individuals and businesses apply for a low-interest disaster loan and close their approved disaster loans,” Varilek continued. The DLOC will be open on the days and times indicated. No appointment is necessary.

“SBA’s low-interest, Federal disaster loans are available to homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes and private, nonprofit organizations to repair or replace their property damaged or destroyed by the disaster. So far, SBA has approved nearly $35.3 million in low-interest disaster loans to residents and businesses,” Varilek said.

SBA provides federal low-interest disaster loans up to $200,000 to homeowners to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate. Homeowners and renters are eligible for up to $40,000 to repair or replace damaged or destroyed personal property.

Businesses of any size and private, nonprofit organizations may borrow up to $2 million to repair or replace damaged or destroyed real estate, machinery and equipment, inventory, and other business assets. SBA can also lend additional funds to homeowners and businesses to help with the cost of making improvements that protect, prevent or minimize the same type of disaster damage from occurring in the future.

For small businesses and most private, nonprofit organizations of any size, SBA offers Economic Injury Disaster Loans (EIDLs) to help meet working capital needs caused by the disaster. EIDL assistance is available regardless of whether the business suffered property damage from the explosion.

SBA customer service representatives will continue to be available at 10 Disaster Recovery Centers and two Business Recovery Centers (BRCs). Small Business Development Center counselors will also continue to be available at the BRCs . Their locations, days and times of operations are at follows. No appointment is necessary.

Disaster loan information and application forms are also available from SBA’s Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955 or e-mailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov. Individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call (800) 877-8339. For more information about SBA’s disaster assistance programs, visit http://www.sba.gov/disaster.

The filing deadline to return applications for property damage is November 14, 2013. The deadline to return economic injury applications is June 16, 2014.